Day off means happy New Year for Dracut workers

By John Collins, jcollins@lowellsun.com

Updated:
12/28/2012 08:14:18 AM EST

DRACUT -- Dracut town workers can start celebrating the New Year earlier than most as a result of the selectmen's split decision to close Town Hall and give all "nonpublic safety personnel" New Year's Eve off.

At the board's final meeting of 2012 held on Dec. 11, Selectman Joe DiRocco's motion to give Town Hall employees a bonus paid vacation day on Dec. 31 passed by vote of 4-1, with Chairwoman Cathy Richardson opposed.

Speaking to his motion, DiRocco noted that "a couple of times in the past," when New Year's Day happened to fall on a Tuesday, as it does to begin 2013, selectmen have allowed Dracut Town Hall to remain closed and have given town employees the Monday off.

In response to questioning by Richardson, DiRocco acknowledged it will amount to a "freebie" vacation day for Dracut town workers. That's a sharp contrast to most surrounding communities, where employees must report to work at Town Hall or City Hall for regular or shortened hours on New Year's Eve day, unless they take personal vacation time.

In Dracut's neighboring communities of Tyngsboro, Pelham and Hudson, N.H., and the city of Lowell, the town halls and City Hall will be open for regular business hours on Monday, The Sun found.

"Some communities do go with a half-day, or let (their employees) out early, but it seems kind of foolish to heat up the (Dracut Town Hall) building, as there's not a lot that would get done on that particular day -- taxes, whatever it might be," said DiRocco.

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"There is a cost associated with opening and closing, putting the heat on, and other things."

DiRocco's motion that Dracut Town Hall be closed on Monday, seconded by Selectman John Zimini, will also include the town's Department of Public Works' employees -- provided their services aren't needed to respond to a winter storm, Town Manager Dennis Piendak stipulated.

Before the vote, Richardson challenged her fellow board members' inclination to award a free vacation day to town employees in fairness to residents who work in the private sector and are required to use personal vacation time if they wish to have Monday off, herself included.

"I still love everyone at Town Hall, I promise, but in fairness to everyone I'm going to have to be the bad person that says 'no' on this," said Richardson.

"I have to take vacation time when I take a day off," added Richardson. "I'm working on Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve, as I'm not fortunate enough to work for the state and town, although I do serve my town and am honored and privileged to do so."

Despite Richardson's objections, the motion passed with Selectmen DiRocco, Zimini, George Malliaros and Robert Cox all voting in favor. Immediately after the vote, the chairman read aloud from the town's community calendar of upcoming events, her voice cracking from apparent fatigue.

"It sounds like you need a day off," DiRocco jokingly suggested to Richardson.

"But that's not how it works in the private sector," responded Richardson, also with a smile.

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